Lifting and transporting apparatus



Jan. 16, 1940. A

J. J. FIELDS 2,187,198 LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Filed June l5, 1938 4 2 SheetSFShGe't l 20 el l H 9 ,2v y 25 "-'=V 'r 25 f""'^`\` ./55 120@ an i z2 w I 6 i 49 2 10j fig-5 N Jan. 16, 1940. J. J, FIELDS 2,187,198

LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 19:58 2 sheets-sheet 2 JMU MM5 Patented Jan. 16, 1940 .UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFEicE Lm'rING AND TaANsPoaTrNG APPARATUS James .1. melde, North canton, .ohio applicati@ June 15, 193s,` serai No. 21ans `7 claims.

The invention relates to an apparatus for lifting, supporting and transporting a person pref-v erably in a reclining position, and is particularly adapted for handling patients or invalids, especially in hospitals, clinics and the like.

In large institutions such as hospitals it is necessary to lift'and transport large numbers of patients daily, for the purpose of changing bedding, or moving the patient to the operating, surgical or X-ray rooms, and the like. i

The ordinary method of handlingpatients consists in `manually lifting the patient `from his bed-onto a portable table or cart, and this usually requires three or more attendants to inserttheir arms under the patient and then lift him from the bed onto the portable cart. Obviously, in using this method the patients body is not properly or evenly supported, and is very apt to be twisted or bent so as tocause him acute discomfort, pain orsulering, and in some cases addi` tional injury, depending upon the nature of his ailment. Consequently in many cases of fracture it is extremely diillcult and frequently dangerous to manually lift or move thev patient.

Moreover, when a patient arrives at the op-` erating or X-ray room, for example, it is usually desirable or necessary to lift and transport hlm toa suitable table or support, thereby again subjecting` him to pain or suffering,- and the handling operation is done all over again on returning the patient to his original bed.

Prior lifting and transporting devices have been constructed, but as far as I am aware, none `have been practical or satisfactory for various reasons, including the disadvantages of being awkward and.` cumbersome to manipulate, and relatively hard to operate. Moreover, such prior devices `are unnecessarily large an'd unwieldly and very unstable when a patient is supported thereon. Not only are they unstable, but they are so complicated or unsubstantial in appearance as to produce an undesirable psychological effect on the patient.

It is an object of the present invention to provide anovel and improved patient lifting and transporting apparatus for eliminating the necessity of manually lifting the patient.

Another object is to provide improved lifting apparatus for firmly and evenly supporting a patient without requiring any change in his reclining position. y

Another object is t' provide improved apparatus for lifting and transporting a patient without causing the patient any pain or injury.

A further object is to provide an improved lifting and transporting apparatus adapted for continuously supporting a patient while certain operations or examinations are being performed.

Another object is to provide an improved lifting and transporting apparatus which greatly re- 5 ,duces the time and the number of people required in handling patients.

A still further object is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for lifting and transporting patients, which apparatus is extremely solid and 10 stable at all times in all positions.

And iinally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and compact apparatus `which accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives, which is very easy to operate and manipulate, and which has a substantial andtrim appearance. l

These and other objects are attained by the parts, elements, combinations and arrangements comprising the present invention, which is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

i In general terms, the invention may be stated as including an upright supporting frame mounted at one side of a laterally extending base frame, a lifting frame pivoted to the top of said uprightframe extending over said base frame and having spaced hangers depending therefrom secured to a carrier frame which includes parallel side bars across which flexible strips may be detachably fastened, angular lifting arms pivotally connected to said lifting frame and to a lifting mechanism mounted on said upright frame, and stabilizer arms pivoted to said hangers and said upright frame for moving with said lifting frame.

Referring to the drawings forming part hereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view of' the improved lifting and transporting apparatus ready for use. showing housings enclosing parts of the lifting mechanism; e

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the improved apparatus with said housings removed for `the sake of clearness;

Athe lifting frame and carrier frame in dot-dash lines;

` Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line 5 5, Fis. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 6-4, Fig. 5; u

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of the crank handle construction for operating the lifting mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of inserting the flexible strips under the patient and an improved appliance therefor.

The improved apparatus shown by way of example in the drawings and comprising the present invention preferably includes an upright frame indicated generally at I0 and mounted at one side of a laterally extending base frame having the cross member II and lateral members I2 extending substantially horizontally from the ends of and at right angles to cross member II. Stated in another way, the base frame members I2 extend from the lower corners of the upright frame I Il at right angles thereto, and the members II and I2 form a U-shaped horizontal base frame carrying the uprightframe I0 at the closed side of the U.

Suitable braces I3 are preferably provided at the corners between the members II and I2, and similarly, braces I4 may be provided at the corners between the members I2 and the outer or side frame members I5 of the upright frame I0. Thus the upright frame I0 is solidly and substantially rigidly mounted on a rigid base frame.

Preferably, the U-shaped base frame is positioned low enough to go under beds, X-ray tables or the like, and verticall legs I6 are provided at the four corners of said base frame. Also, the U-shape of the base frame facilitates positioning it around the bases of surgery tables and the like. lRollers or casters I1 are swiveled on said legs I6, the roller brackets Ila being rotatably mounted on -the legs or posts I6 in a usual manner. If-desired suitable brakes may be applied to the rollers for maintaining the apparatus in any desired location and preventing ambulatory movement thereof.

The outer upright frame members I5 of the upright supporting frame I0 extend vertically upward from the corners of the base frame, and are preferably curved toward eachother at their upper ends as indicated at I8 to form a substantially horizontal cross bar I9A connecting the members or legs I5 of the upright frame. Thus the cross bar I9 and legs I5 form a U-shaped upright supporting frame mounted at the closed side of the U-shaped base frame.

The top lifting frame preferably includes arms 20 spaced longitudinally of the cross bar I9 and pivotally'connected thereto at their inner ends, as at 2|. The arms 20 extend laterally outward from-the cross bar I9 over the base frame and are connected at their outer ends to an outer cross bar 23. Thus theA arms 20 and cross bar 23 form a. U-shaped lifting frame pivotally connected to the cross bar I9 of the upright supporting frame.

Preferably, the ends of th outer cross `bar 23 project beyond the arms 26, and hanger yokes 24 are pivoted thereon as at 25 and depend downwardly therefrom. The hanger yokes 24 preferably include curved downwardly extending arms 22 which are connected at their lower ends to a carrier frame indicated generally at 26 for supporting the same.

Means for holding the carrier frame 26 substantially horizontal and stable in all positions preferably includes stabilizer bars 20a pivotally connected at their outer ends to a cross bar 23a extending between hangers 24 and at their inner are parallel to arms 20, and have the same length between pivots as arms 20, so that they move with and parallel to arms 2B.

Means for adjustably supporting the top lifting frame for raising and lowering the same preferably includes angularly disposed lifting bars 21 pivotally connected at their upper ends to a cross bar 28 connected to the laterally extending arms 26 intermediate its ends. The lower ends of the lifting arms 21 are pivoted on a transverse lifting bar 29, so that vertical movement of the transverse bar 29 will cause the lifting arms 21 to move the lifting frame about its pivots 2l on the cross bar I9 of the upright frame, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. During movement of the lifting frame the stabilizer bars 20a remain parallel with arms 20 so as to maintain the carrier frame 26 in a horizontal position.

Means for raising and lowering the transverse lifting bar 29 preferably includes a vertical screw 30 which is screwed through the nut 3I forming part of the transverse lifting bar 29. The screw 30 is mounted on a suitable thrust bearing 32 on a transverse frame member 33 which may be in the form of a channel as shown, and the channel 33 is supported at its ends on upright frame members 34 located intermediate the side members I5 and secured at their lower ends to the base frame member II.

At their upper ends the frame members 34 are revers'ely bent to form downwardly extending portions 35 parallel with and spaced from the upright members 34, and the lower ends of portions 35 may be secured to the channel 33. The curved or bent portions 36 of frame members 34, forming the connections with portions 35 at the upper ends thereof, preferably abut the cross bar I9 and may be secured thereto as by welding. Thus the adjacent portions of upright frame members 34 and downwardly bent portions 35 form a guide track for rollers 31 journaled on the transverse lifting bar 29 to guide the same as it is raised and lowered by the screw 30, and the frame members 34 take the thrust transmitted to the rollers from the load supported.

Means for turning the screw 30 to raise and lower the transverse lifting arm 29 may include a bevel gear 38 secured on the screw shaft and meshing with a bevel gear 39 journaled in a bearing 39a supported on a bracket 40 mounted on the channel 33. A crank arm 4I is preferably secured to the stub shaft 42 of bevel gear 39 for turning the same, and the crank arm 4I is preferably tubular and has a handle 43 rotatably mounted in its inner end, as indicated in Fig. '7. The shank 44 of the crank handle is slidably inserted in the crank arm 4I against a spring 45 and has a pin 46 secured thereto working in a slot 41 in the crank arm 4 I. Thus by pressing the handle 43 downwardly against spring 45, the handle may be rotated through 90 with the pin 46 moving in slot 41, so as to turn the handle 43 out of the way, as shown in Fig. 2, for moving the apparatus through doorways and the like.

A cap 30a is provided on the top of screw 36 for limiting upward movement of the nut 3 I, and

the nut 3l is adapted to abut the upper surface of, gear 38 for limiting its downward movement.

The screw 36' and gears 36 and 39 may be enclosed in a suitable casing or housing A, and the guide tracks formed by members 34 and 35 similarly enclosed in housings B, as shown in Fig. 1, for enhancing the appearance of the apparatus and hiding the lifting mechanism.

The carrier frame 26 on which the patient is -ber or the like.

lifted and supported preferably includes two-parallel sidearmsorbarsll towhichtheyoke arms 22 of the hangers 24 are rigidly connected. 'l'.lier

bars Il are spaced apart a distancegwhich adapts them for being positioned' alongside a patients bodyinarecliningpositiononabed. Thebars Il are provided with a plurality of studs or bui:-

tons l! on their' upper surfaces at intervals along theirlengths, anda plurality of ilexiblestrips Il of canvas or the like. are provided forbeing iastened transversely across the bars Il.

The strips Il are provided with eyelets' or grommets il adapted for snapping over the buttons 4l to securely fasten the strips thereto. and as shown. a series of grommets spaced longitui dinally of the stripsfis provided at each end thereofsoasto connectthe-strlpstothebarswith various degrees of tautness as desired. j

Preferably, .U-shaped or curved bumperbars' 52' are connected at their ends to the ends of the parallel bars- Il for pivotal movement thereon lfrom a horizontal to a vertical position. As best shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the bumperbars l! are curved as at 53' for abutting the ends of bars vided with studs or buttons 48' for` fa' tening. av

strip 50 across the legs thereof.

In the operation of the improved apparatus, the flexible strips 5u, detached from the carrier frame, are ilrst inserted under the patient to be lifted while he is in a reclining position on his bed, at the desired locations for properly supporting him without changing his position and without causing him any pain or discomfort."

Obviously, the strips are positioned at different intervals according to the physical condition of different patients, and may in some cases adjoin each other so as to perform a substantially comtinuous support.

In order to aid in inserting the strips under the patients body. a novel and improved appliance formed of heavy wire or the like as indicated at 5B in Fis. 8, is provided having a handle portion 56 at one end and prongs 51 at the other end. The prongs are bent angularly at their ends and provided with rounded enlargements 5I for engaging in the grommets I I of the strips Il, so that the handle portion II may be pushed under the patients body from one side and then grasped at the other side to pull the strip Il under the body without causing any pain or discomfort to the patient.

After the strips have been positioned under the patients body, the improved apparatus is then moved alongside the bed of a patient to be lifted, and the laterally extending members I2 of the base frame are pushed imder the bed so that the upright frame Il is positioned adjacent the side of the bed, the lifting frame having been previously raised sumciently to move over the patient. A

By turning the crank handle the yoke 22 and carrier frame are lowered until the parallelbars Il of the carrier frame are positioned one along each side of the patients body. Before the carrier frame is thus lowered, the end bumper bars l2 are swung upwardly to their vertical aromas v lvrllht positions so as not to interfere with the head and foot of the bed.1 Theey'jelets or grommets of the strips Il may then be fastened onto the studs ,the proper sets of grommets being Selected t give thedesired tautness in the strips.

'rhs crank handle-1s then manipmated to raise the patientabove the bed, andif desired the apparatus may then be moved away from the bed for changing `the-bedding; or if it is desired to transport the patient to another place, the apparatus is easilyl manipulated to accomplish the same, the crank handle being turned out of the way as previously described. In pushing the apparatus, the bumper bars 52 when lowered provide a convenient place to grasp the apparatus and at the same 'time provide guards for preventing the attendant 'from bumping against the head or feet of the patient. Said bumper bars alsoprovide extensionsto which additional strips III maybe attached or accommodating a tall or impatient.

The stabilizer bars 20a maintain the carrier frame 26 in a horizontal position while the patient is being raised or lowered or transported, and at the same time prevent any swinging' of the carrier frame with respect to the upright frame Il. Due to the laterally extending .base frame andthe way the upright frame is mounted thereon, the whole apparatus solidly and securely supports the patient at all times, although there is enough resiliency in the `frame members to absorb some of the shock of` a sudden lift so as to ease the patient.

A patient supported on the carrier frame I Il may be taken to the operating or X-ray room and lowered onto the operating table or other support, after which the strips 50 may be unfastened and the apparatus moved out of the way of the required operation or examination. When it is desired to return the patient to`his room, the improved apparatus is utilized in the manner previously described to transport him back to his room.

In certain instances, `as for examplein the making' of X-rays, it may not be necessary to remove the patient from the carrier frame because one ormore of the strips 50 may be removed at. the parts of the patients body where the X-ray is to be taken and the patient left otherwise undisturbed on the carrier frame during the operation or examination.

Moreover, if it is desired to take a patient onto an airing or sun porch, the present improved apparatus provides means for transporting the patient, and if desired, a canvas sheet may be substituted for the strips 5I! so that the patient has a comfortable bed on the carrier frame 28 for as long a period as required.

Accordingly, the present invention provides means for handling a large number of patients including lifting, transporting and supporting them, in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum number of attendants. At the same time, the patient is never subjected to any pain or discomfort because the necessity for manually lifting himA is entirely eliminated.

The apparatus has a trim and substantial ap pearance producing a favorable psychological effect on the patient, which is very important in keeping the patient in a calm and unexcited state of mind, especially just prior to subjecting him to operations and the like.

I claim: 1. Lifting and transporting apparatus includinga U-shspedbaseframe,aU-shapeduprisht frame mounted on one side of said base frame, a U-shaped lifting frame pivoted to the top of said upright frame and extending over said base, a carrier frame depending from said lifting frame, lifting mechanism on the upright frame pivotally connected to the lifting frame for raising and lowering the carrier frame, and stabilizing means movable with the lifting frame for maintaining the carrier frame in horizontal position.

2. Apparatus for lifting and transporting a patient, including an upright frame, a base frame extending laterally from and supporting the upright frame, a lifting frame pivoted at its inner end t the top of said upright frame and extending over said base, a carrier frame, means supporting the carrierframe from the outer end of said lifting frame, lifting mechanism on the upright frame pivotally connected to the lifting frame intermediate its ends for raising and lowering said carrier`frame, andstabilizer bars pivotally connected at one end to the upright frame and at the other end to said carriervframe supporting means for moving with the lifting frame to maintain the carrier frame in horizontal position.

3. Apparatus for lifting and transporting a patient, including a horizontal base frame, an upright frame mounted on one side of said base frame and having upright frame members intermediate its sides and an upper cross bar, a lifting frame pivoted at its inner end on said upper cross bar and extending over said base frame, a carrier frame, spaced hangers pivoted on and depending from the outer end of said lifting frame for supporting said carrier frame, stabilizer bars pivoted at one end to said hangers and at the other end to said upright frame for 'moving paral- (lel with said lifting frame, lifting mechanism mounted on said intermediate upright frame members and including a transverselifting bar roilably abutting said intermediate upright frame members, and angular lifting bars pivotally connected to said transverse lifting bar and to said lifting frame intermediate its ends.

4. Apparatus for lifting and transporting a patient, including a horizontal base frame, an

' upright frame mounted on one side of said base frame and having uprightv frame members intermediate its sides and an upper cross bar, a lifting frame pivoted at its inner end on said cross bar and extending over said base frame, a carrier frame, spaced hangers pivoted on and depending from the outer end of said lifting frame for supporting said carrier frame, stabilizer bars pivoted 5. Apparatus for lifting and transporting a pa tient, including a horizontal base frame, an upright frame mounted on one side of said base frame and having upright frame members intermediate its sides and an upper cross bar, a lifting frame pivoted at its inner end on said cross bar and extending over said base frame, a carrier frame, spaced hangers pivoted on and depending from the outer end of said lifting frame for supporting said carrier frame, lifting mechanism mounted ony said intermediate upright frame members and including a transverse lifting bar roilably abutting said intermediate upright frame members, and angular lifting bars pivotally connected to said lifting frame intermediate its ends.

6. Apparatus for lifting and transporting a patient, including a base, anupright frame mounted on the base, a lifting frame pivoted on said upright frame, patient supporting means carried by said lifting frame, lifting mechanism on said upright frame pivotally connected to said lifting frame for raising and lowering said patient supporting means, and stabilizing means movable with said lifting frame for maintaining said patient supporting means stable in all positions of said lifting frame.

'7. Apparatus for lifting and transporting a patient, including a base, an upright frame supported on the base, a lifting frame pivoted on the top of said upright frame and extending over said base, a patient carrier, means supporting said carrier on the lifting frame, lifting mechanism on the upright frame pivotally connected to the lifting frame for raising and lowering said carrier, and stabilizing means pivotally connected at one end to said upright frame and at the other end to said carrier supporting means for moving with the lifting frame to prevent swinging of said carrier with respect to said upright frame. l

' JAMES J. FIELDS. 

